What To Look For In An out of State Boot Camp For Troubled Teens

What_To_Look_For_In_An_Out_of_State_Boot_Camp_For_Troubled_Teens

One of the hardest parenting moments is knowing your teen needs the kind of help they can only find at a boot camp. However, for some troubled teens sending them to boot camp is the best decision you can make for their future.

What Is Boot Camp?

A therapeutic boot camp is very similar to a military boot camp. The living conditions and discipline will be much like that of the actual military which may make a boot camp a good option for some troubled teens. The structure and discipline gives them a really hard look at what life in prison will be life if they do not change their ways. Some kids need this type of reality check. Since boot camps usually lack a therapy component, these programs are not recommended for troubled teens with a history of any type of abuse including self-harm and drugs.

Are Boot Camps Safe?

Every once in a while boot camps get some negative press including management issues and abuse or neglect. However, there are things you can do to ensure the safety and success of your troubled teen at boot camp.

First, make sure the program has been accredited by a nationally recognized organization and fully licensed by the state it operates in.

Second, ask for references or other proof of success.

Third, ask yourself if you really feel your troubled teen is going to benefit from the boot camp experience. That may seem like a silly question but only you know your child best. If your child shuts down when yelled at, perhaps boot camp is not the right place to send them.

Fourth, is your troubled teen in good physical health? This is military-style boot camp so if they are overweight, have asthma, or another medical condition that could be made worse by the intense physical activity perhaps your child would be better served in another type of program.

Fifth, do not expect the boot camp to do all the work. If you send your troubled teen away to the highly structured environment of boot camp, but do not change the structure and expectations at home then you, the parent, are not ready for the boot camp experience.

Sixth, look for a therapy component. Since most boot camps lack this element they can be hard to find.

Alternatives To Traditional Boot Camps

If you troubled teen needs the structure of boot camp but not all the yelling equine therapy programs blend the boot camp type experiences with the hard work of real working ranch. Most parents are not aware equine therapy programs offer the intense structure of boot camp without military theme.

Request Free Admissions Information

Step 1 of 3 - Your Contact Info

Written by Natalie

22 Jun, 2015

Recent Posts

How Military Camps Provide Structure for Troubled Teens

Encouraging our kids to stay focused has become one of the most challenging tasks in parenting. From social media to video games, it can be difficult to inspire our teenagers to study or focus on personal goals, especially if they are struggling with emotional...

Aftercare Programs for Troubled Teens: Ensuring Long-Term Success

The end goal of any troubled teen intervention, whether that be therapeutic boarding schools or a boot camp, should be the successful reintegration of the adolescent into society.  The road to recovery does not end as soon as the program does. Supporting troubled...

Understanding the Academic Aspect of Troubled Teen Boarding Schools

At a boarding school for troubled teens, for example, you won't find the traditional methods of learning used in the public school system.  Instead, you will encounter various academic offerings catered to your troubled teen's learning needs.  To help you understand...

The Role of Family Therapy in Troubled Teen Rehabilitation

Troubled teens need a supportive family structure to heal themselves and turn around their lives.  However, it can be challenging to create and foster that type of support structure without the proper tools. It becomes especially difficult when the troubled teen's...

Alternative Approaches: Wilderness Therapy for Troubled Teens

Also known as outdoor behavioral therapy, wilderness programs for teenagers are becoming increasingly popular. And it's not hard to see why. As a society, we are so far removed from nature, leaving us very little opportunity to utilize the full benefit of spending...

Transforming Troubled Teens: Success Stories from Boarding Schools

The decision to send your troubled teen to a therapeutic boarding school is one that causes many parents sleepless nights filled with worry and anxiety.  It's understandable. This is your child, and the idea of sending them away from your care is enough to cause...

Choosing the Right Boarding School: A Guide for Parents

When deciding on your child's education, parents often feel overwhelmed by the wide variety of choices on offer. For parents with a troubled teen, this is possibly even more difficult, especially when they've opted for a residential treatment center like a therapeutic...

How Troubled Teen Help Hotlines Can Make a Difference

For teens in emotional distress, the option to speak to someone who is neutral yet understanding can help them face another day. This is where teen help hotlines come in.  With 24/7 access to a professionally trained helpline operator, troubled teens can seek help...

What Sets Disciplinary Schools for Teens Apart?

Modern teenagers face many challenges their parents didn't have to consider while growing up.  This leaves parents and caregivers at a loss when trying to understand their teenagers and their daily problems. It gets even more complicated when you have a troubled teen...

You May Also Like…

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *